Petter Solberg: Mud, sweat and tears

Autosport columnist Petter Solberg explains why his Cyprus success helped him resist the temptation to try racing sportscars, but why testing an F1 car recently has left him hungry for more on-track action

I drove a Formula 1 car for the first time last week. Let me tell you, it was incredible. Amazing. It was Michael Schumacher's 2005 Ferrari that now belongs to a friend of mine. It was just amazing.

As you know, I tested a Le Mans car recently, so driving a very fast race car wasn't something completely new for me. But the Ferrari was something else. I didn't stop smiling all of the time - except for when the car developed a gearbox problem and I had to stop driving.

I'm hoping to go back for another go, maybe just after the rally in Portugal.

I was talking with the Ferrari engineers after the test and they said my times were close to the pace after just four laps, which was really good for me. It made me think more about doing the Le Mans race with Oreca, but I just think that the racing thing is a bit soon for me.

I was offered the whole Le Mans Series season with Oreca, but then missed the official Le Mans test because I was busy testing the rally car. And the Le Mans 24 Hours actually clashes with the Acropolis Rally.

After the last event in Cyprus went so well, it made me think maybe I should focus completely on what I'm doing with my own rally team. Don't get me wrong, Le Mans is something which really excites me and I want to go racing at this event, but, as I say, I think it's a bit early.

So, after all that talk of racing, now to my main passion and this week's Rally of Portugal. Hey, Marcus [Gronholm] is back. That's really exciting and good news for the sport. I really, really hope he goes well in the Subaru. And I think he can.

Remember, I finished second in that car in Greece last year. It was a pretty good car then and I know there has been a lot of development on the Impreza WRC since I drove it last. He's on the right dampers with Ohlins and it's a very strong engine under the bonnet. It'll be great to have him back again.

For me, Portugal is an event I really like. The people are fantastic and the roads are among the best in the championship.

Coming into the event on the back of a podium in Cyprus is very encouraging. We were testing on Monday this week, but we didn't get the new dampers we were hoping for. The boys at Reiger were still building them, but they will be here in time for one final test at shakedown and then for the rally. I reckon they'll make a difference for the car, it was something we were missing a little bit in Cyprus. So, let's see what we can do.

The good news is that I'm feeling a hell of a lot better than when I left Limassol. I was terrible. I was in bed for a week and a half afterwards. The doctors did some blood tests and found I was short of iron. I've started some training recently and things have been getting back to normal. I will be back at 100 per cent in time for the first stage on Friday, make no mistake.

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